Differential gearing.



F. J. BAKER.

DIFFERENTIAL GJEARING. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11,1917.

1,258,177. l Patented Mar. 5,1918. v

F. J. BAKER. DIFFERENTIAL GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19'7- I 1,258,177. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETSTSHEET 2.

, El mm* I Application led July 11,1917. Serial No. 179,832.

Be lityknown that I ,FREDERICK JJBAKER,

I' eitizemof;thaunieed states, 'residing at Dayton, inwthe countyf-offMontgomery and :State of;.0hio, have invented certain-new ,and --usefull Improvements in Differential ?Gearing',-of, which the following is a speciication. ,f

Ik.) This inventionrelates to new,and useful I-imrovernents `in differential gearing'.

nefofffthe principal objects of my invention is tofprovdefzfor all types of automo- --biles,.aL differential gearing which prevents the divided ydriving axlesl or shafts from turning #in` opposite directions.1

For in-v stace,=wl1en an automobile is turning a corner, oney drivingvwheel'isapt to move in a l .xldirecti'on opposite to the movement of the other one and-thereby injure` or strain the driving mechanism. l

A further object of my invention lis to fprovide a differential gearing which will ''.materially. reduce the dangers due to skid- Y ..ding,and`w'hich will also assist an automoi Otherl important 'and incidental objects.

bilei-n negotiating rough and slippery roads.

I will beset forth in. the following specifica'- tionl and -particularly pointed out in th subjoinedclaims.

The preferred form. of embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accom anying VYxdrawings, ofw-hich Figurejl is asi e elevationalv :view of my l'improved' differential gearing. '.Fig. 2 is-an `endgviemwith bevel gear removed. Figa?, isz'a sectional view takenwonthefline; of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is fl apla'n viewvof -the'dividing plate or spider between the gearsfandpinions. Fig. 5 is a.

-plan view of oneset ofz gears after one'end of the differential casing has beenremoved.

.Fig. .6 is a' plan. view of one of the studs or fspmdles-,which extends between the sections of the dierential casing. Fig. 7 is aseotional view ofone of the gears mounted on v uview of one of the floating'pinions.

said spindles. And" Fig.' 8 is a. sectional Throughout. the .specification and drawings, similar Areference characters denote corresponding parts.-

`In a detailedl descripticinbf the preferred form of embodiment, of my invention, the

f ...i -numeralldesignates one section of the dif-v ferentialcasing and 2 the opposite section.

-.1 Suitably-fjournaled inthe outwardly pro- 1 tion 1 is'fan-r axleA shaft onthe inner end of jecting tubular-'portion .3 of the casing seci l Specialisti-on of Letters Patient.

4 Patented whicha gear 5is fast. A companion axle extension 7 of the casing section 2. To the inner end of the axle shaft 6 there is keyed a gear 8 which is separated from the gear .5 by an oscillating spider or disk plate 9 which has an annular retaining rim `or band 10. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

Extending through the disk portions of the `casing sections 1 and 2, near the outer .shaft 6 is suitablyjournaled in the tubular circumferentialed es thereof. are the threaded ends of spind es or studs 11, three of...

which are preferably employed in my-pres-- ent invention. (See Figs. 1', 2 and 3.) The threaded ends of ,these spindles 11, after bel ing passed through holes in the faces .ofthe casing sections 1 and 2,. receive nuts 12 for` the 'purpose of uniting said sections,.sui ii..

cient space being left between them to acs commodate the disk plate 9, the gears 5 and 8, and the following'gears and pinions.

Loosely mounted upon one of thel spindles 11, one on each side of the disk plate 9, :I

are'small gears 13, three of Which-are 1n mesh with the gear 5 and three inv mesh with the gear 8. (See Figs. 1. 3 and 5.) The middle portion ofeach ofthe spindles 11,

vor that portion of a spindle between each of the gears 13 thereon, loosely passesthrough an arcuate slot 14 provided in the disk plate 9. There are three vof these slots 14 circumferentially arranged around the axis of the 'disk plate 9, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In floating engagement with the gear l5 on one side of the plate 9, and with the `gear 8 on vthe other side of said plate, be-l tween eachpair of gears 13, is anidle pinion 1'5. Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, each ,of the pinions- 15 has a short axial extension V16- which loosely enters an arcuate slot 17 pro.- vided in the disk plate 9. There are three of these slots 17, one between each .pairofslots 14, for a urpose to'be `hereinafter described. (See ig.4.) U y Secured to the casing sectlon 2 bymea'ns of the studs 11 and nuts 12, is a bevel gear 18 which is adapted to be rotated by a driving gear (notshown) to turn the casingl section 2 When said casing section is thus rotated, its companlon section 1 w1ll also be rotated, since-'the two sections are connected.

by the studs 11. Now when the two sections 1 and 2 are rotated, the studs 11 whichconnect them`wil1 carry the gears 13 aroundthe gears and 8- into meshwith the idle. pinions 15 are thusin mesh,ithey are loc ed ions `15. when the gears 13 and idle intogether -a ainst separate rotationfor the purpose'o thereafterturning the gears ."iv

and Sto-whichfthe axle shafts 6 and 4 are respectively secured., Accordingly, a fur.

ther: rotation of the casin section 2 will cause the axle shafts 4 an 6 to turn as a unit to rotate thedriving wheels of ank auto- V mol'iile containing my differential mechaliisl'n'. (See Fig 5.)

Let it now be supposed that said automoybile is turning a corner. "In such a case one of the rear wheels thereof will revolve Vfaster than the other one. The difference, in speed .between the one wheel and the other, will cause the idle pinions -15 belongin to the faster rotating wheel to move out `o engagement with their respective drivin `gears 13.

.This is due tothe fact that thei le pinions l 15 are not, like the gears 13, mounted on a lcommon shaftl- Hence, for example, when v. fthe gear 5 Vstarts to move faster than the gear 8, it will carry its idle pinions 15 to the ends of their slots y17, where they will be'out of engagement with their respective gears 13 to permit'the device to act differentially. However, the pinions 15 of the fastermovin wheel having been moved out ofmeshj with their respective gears 13, will "permit the axle shaft of that wheel to rotate'` indecndent of the casing section whichy receives 1t, since said shafty is not rigidly lsecured to said casing section, but has its inner end journaled or a free movement therein.

While the outer wheel will alwaysbe permitted to rotate faster than the inner one to compensate for the difference in speed when turning a corner, it willnot be permitted a reverse movement to strain the driving mechanism, since any reverse movement of said wheel will cause the idle pinions 15 to again lock with the driving 'gears 13 belonging to the outer wheel to retard a rearward movement of the latter. M invention has thefurther advantage `in tliat both sections of the split axle are itivedrivers. For exam le, should one l iiiving wheel of an automobile, on a straight course, encounter "a slippery lace and the i other wheel be on dry groun the machine' will derive its traction from the wheelon dry ground, since my differential gear mechanism makes `the axle sections practically one solid unit when the car is traveling a straight course. Accordingly, a car equipped with my differential gearing can one which is retardedas soon as one driving wheel encounters a slippery; lace;`

The tendency towardski'l ing, both when the automobile istravclinga straight course or tirning a corner, is also considerably lessen On a cur e, the inside wheel y better travel through mud, sand and snow'than' by my improved differential rivi" i ing one, will have a tendency to prevent the machine fromswerving to one s1de; ai id on la straight course, if onedrivin wheelsliould happen to leave the'ground,'t e ower will immediatel be transmitted in fu l force to the other w eel, to prevent the machine from suddenly turning to one side. e

I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction .and karrangement herein shown and described, and an changes or modifications .may be made t erein within the scope'of the subjoined claims.

Havin described my inventiomI claim:

1. A differential mechanism comprising a divided casiiigja shaft journaled in each casing section, a gear fast on the 'inner end' of each shaft, a partition separatin said gears, members extending through sai partition for connecting the casing sections to-` gether, gears mounted on s aid members, one on each side' of said partition, for enga ment with the first named gears ,\means or revolving4 the casing, and means for lockin the second named gears on each side of sai partition, against rotation on their respective members, whereby one or both shafts may be turned bythe revolving casing.

2. A differential mechanism comprising a divided casing,'a shaft journaled in each casing 'secti;rn, a' gear fast on the inner end of each shalt, a partition separating said gears, elementsextending through 'said partition for connecting the casing sections togetherygears mounted on said elements, one on each side of said' partition, for enga ement with the first named gears, means or revolving the casing, and mobile means movable into engagement with the lirst and second named gears, on each side of said partition, to lock the second named gears a inst rotation on their respective elements w ci-eby Yoneor both shafts may be turn by the revolving casin 3. A differential mec ianism comprising a divided casing, a shaft journaled in each casing section,`a gear yfast on the inner end of each shaft, a spider separatin said gears, elements extending through sai spider for.

connecting the casing sections together, gears t loosely mounted' on said elements, one on each side of said spider, for engagement with the first named gears, means for revolving the casing, and idle pinions movable Vinto engagement with the first and second named `gears on each side of said spider, to lock the second named gears against rotation on their respective elements, whereby one or both shafts may be turned by thev revolving casing. i

' 4. A differential mechanism comprisinga divided casing, ai shaft journaled in each casingsection,a ear fast on the inner end 'of `each shaft, a isk plate separatin said gears, [spindles extending through holes in 'platefor connecting tliecasing sections *139,

. casing section, a

together, gears loosely mounted on Ysaid spindles, one on each slde of said plate, for engagement with the first named gears, means for revolving the casing, and idle pinions movable into engagement with the rst and second named gears on each side of said plate, to lock the rsecond named gears against rotation on their res ective spindles, Whereb one or both of said shafts may be turned by the revolving casin 5. A diii'erential mechanism comprising adivided casing, a shaft journaled in each casing section, a gear fast on the inner end of each shaft, a

studs extending through said spider for connecting the casing sections together, gears loosely mounted on said studs, one on each side of said spider, tor engagement with the first named gears, means for revolving the casing, idle pinions movable into engagement with the first and second named gears on each side of said spider, to lock the second named gears against rotation on their respective studs, whereby one or both shafts may be turned by the revolving casing, and an annular peripheral rim on said spider to maintain said idle pinions in loose engagement with the first named gears.

6. A differential mechanism comprising a. divided casing, a shaft journaled in each.

gear fast on the inner end of each shaft, a disk plate separating-said gears, spindles extending through slots arcuate in shape provided in said plate, for conspider separating said gears,

` casing section, a gear fastl on the inner end of each shaft, a disk plate separating said gears, spindles extending through arcuate slots provided .in said plate for connecting the casing sections together, gears loosely mounted on saidspindles, one on each side of said plate, for engagement with the lirst named gears, means for revolving the casing, idle pinjons movable into engagement with the first and second named gears, lto lock the latter against rotation on their respective spindles, and hubs on said pinions mova-ble in arcuate slots provided in said disk platebetween the first named slots.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of July, 1917.

FREDERICK J .v BAKER.

Witnesses:

WM. M. PETTIT, H. S. SMITH. 

